Could The Dolphins OL Go From Bad To Worse Next Year?

[hoops]

Jackson is fine for me at right tackle. I don’t get why folks want to replace him so much.

Im serious when I say that losing eich may be by itself just the formula this oline needs.

Ive seen one guy bring oline units down by himself but ive also seen one guy carry a oline front and Armstead did that in Miami.

 

[AMakados10]

The draft is a wildcard if you hit on players that significantly boost your roster but we’re going to be bargain shoppers in FA this year and next imo.

Ask again about the OL after the draft and see how any new guys do in camp.

 

[Atila]

The OL could be better, but there is a lot of IF’s that need to happen. We need to get a plug and play LG in the draft, our new RG needs to be back to 100%, and PP needs to be at least average… if all 3 of those happen, we will probably be a better OL.

What always ends up happening is some of your IF’s don’t workout. Fans get overextended in their excitement and forget that things don’t always break perfectly for you.

I expect our OL to be below average next year… which would still be better than what we had. Just not sure if it’s going to be bottom of the barrel or not.

 

[phinsforlife]

The OL could be better, but there is a lot of IF’s that need to happen. We need to get a plug and play LG in the draft, our new RG needs to be back to 100%, and PP needs to be at least average… if all 3 of those happen, we will probably be a better OL.

What always ends up happening is some of your IF’s don’t workout. Fans get overextended in their excitement and forget that things don’t always break perfectly for you.

I expect our OL to be below average next year… which would still be better than what we had. Just not sure if it’s going to be bottom of the barrel or not.

yup. my rule of thumb is the more IFs you got, the bigger problems you are likely to have

 

[The Goat]

Despite the obvious need for the OL to get better next year, it just dawned on me it might actually get worse.

We added one guard, who seems to be pretty good, but also coming off of injury.

On the other hand, Armstead may not be back. This is still unclear. That means Pat Paul will be our starter. Pat Paul was a known project when we drafted him - great physical attributes, but a project. He lived up to his billing last year. He was not very good when he played. His run blocking was terrible. The issue was not the guards next to him. Armstead's run blocking was great, with the same guards.

We do not know what Paul is. As far as next year alone is concerned, he might be very good, he might be acceptable, and he might be terrible. There is really no way to know. Based on his performance last year, he is going to need to be a lot better.

If Armstead does not come back, we are running the risk of a sharp falloff at the LT position, which will more than offset the benefit of the upgraded single guard, as LT is a more important position with bigger ramifications.

I think this is an unacceptable risk to take. GM me is trying to get Armstead to come back, despite the injury issues (granted cap space problem and we are tapped so here comes the hamster wheel again and more future pain). It is what it is at this point. Not the perfect solution at all, but this is the bed we made for ourselves.

Failing that, I am using the first round draft pick on another OL, whether it is a guard or a tackle or a guy that might be able to play both. Even if Armstead does come back, we still might need to use that pick on the OL.

I hate being in this box too. I like being able to go BPA, because you can end up passing on a generational prospect when you are boxed in.

Solid post. It’s a legitimate question to ask about Paul, but I don’t think it’s any wiser to assume he’ll be awful than it is to assume he’ll be great. He decidedly showed improvement as the year went on, and as one or two have noted…by the end of the year, once Paul got his hands on an opponent, it was pretty much over.

What’s equally important to note, imo, is that the run game suffered most after Jackson went down. The right side of the OL was basically unusable for the run game after that. A return to health by him should help immensely.

Finally, while it’s true Armstead is a much better run blocker than Paul, Armstead is a much better blocker than 90% of the league when he’s healthy. He’s good enough to not be tragically impacted by bad guard play. Point being…upgrading the LG position would benefit Paul considerably if he ends up starting there.

However, if there’s a way to bring Armstead back for 2025, I 100% agree with you. Kick that can down the road a little more for one more year (or at least half a year) of outstanding play and mentoring.

 

[MARINO1384]

It’ll be better, it’s hard to get worse. Eich and Jones were really that bad. Losing Armstead and replacing him with Paul could suck but let’s not act like Armstead has been a staple of the oline. We’ve seen plenty of games that he’s missed and generally the oline was alright if jones and eich weren’t there playing together.

Resign Wynn, signing Will Hernandez would be a miracle but he might be too expensive, surprised he’s not signed yet. Trystan Colon would be my cheaper pick if they want to go low tier with potential either way I’m still taking Membou/Banks/campbell at 13 and line will be great.

 

[Honeybadger08]

We have 4 picks in round 7. I have always felt that about rounds 6 and 7 (maybe 5?) those picks are the same as UDFAs.
What positions do you have the best chance of a hit there? A low chance but is OL best? Maybe RB? With our current roster, FAs so far, draft pics available, I just don’t see a good 2025.

Not going to find OL in the 7th round. I hope those picks are used to shore up the special teams units most everyone on here has been complaining about the last few years.

 

[phinsforlife]

It’ll be better, it’s hard to get worse. Eich and Jones were really that bad. Losing Armstead and replacing him with Paul could suck but let’s not act like Armstead has been a staple of the oline. We’ve seen plenty of games that he’s missed and generally the oline was alright if jones and eich weren’t there playing together.

Resign Wynn, signing Will Hernandez would be a miracle but he might be too expensive, surprised he’s not signed yet. Trystan Colon would be my cheaper pick if they want to go low tier with potential either way I’m still taking Membou/Banks/campbell at 13 and line will be great.

i think the o line was ok when armstead got hurt and lamm came in. lamm did surprisingly well. when paul was in there, not so good. i am not trying to tell you paul wont get better. i have no idea. my point was, i do not feel good about taking that risk. from my perspective, he did not show enough last year that you can feel good about saying he can be the guy this year. it is a gamble, at a very important position, and a gamble that i personally would not want to make

 

[fansinceGWilson]

The OL could be better, but there is a lot of IF’s that need to happen. We need to get a plug and play LG in the draft, our new RG needs to be back to 100%, and PP needs to be at least average… if all 3 of those happen, we will probably be a better OL.

What always ends up happening is some of your IF’s don’t workout. Fans get overextended in their excitement and forget that things don’t always break perfectly for you.

I expect our OL to be below average next year… which would still be better than what we had. Just not sure if it’s going to be bottom of the barrel or not.

It's also true if most 'if's' work out, things could still improve. Some fans seem locked in pessimism and forget that.

 

[phinsforlife]

It's also true if most 'if's' work out, things could still improve. Some fans seem locked in pessimism and forget that.

no. the point was the more if's you have the more risk you have. it is good to have as few if's as possible. the optimism/pessimism point is irrelevant. hope is not a plan or a strategy. if you are advocating for a lot of if's (like last years offensive line), because of "optimism" (like griers optimism about the OL last year), well then you too might not win playoff games for 24 years running!

 

[FINFANFOREVER1972]

Two years in a row with no playoffs will doom both Grier and McGenius! Especially with the money Ross has thrown at this team. They are both drafting and coaching for their jobs.

 

[Atila]

It's also true if most 'if's' work out, things could still improve. Some fans seem locked in pessimism and forget that.

Did you read my post? I literally said that if they all work out we would be better.

It’s also unrealistic to EXPECT 100% of your question marks to go 100% your way… which you’re insinuating is the possibility by retorting my post.

I’m not sure if you’re calling me pessimistic but you seemingly are OVERLY optimistic with zero basis. I’m an extremely optimistic person, you can also be realistic when something doesn’t deserve such optimism.

The team has holes all over - including still on the OL we do not have a starter at RG… not to mention 3+ starters needed for the D (but let’s not get into this).

We are discussing about the realistic chance of our OL not being that good next year. So you disagree and think it’s UNREALISTIC to discuss our OL being below average?

Or are you just arguing just to argue?

no. the point was the more if's you have the more risk you have. it is good to have as few if's as possible. the optimism/pessimism point is irrelevant. hope is not a plan or a strategy. if you are advocating for a lot of if's (like last years offensive line), because of "optimism" (like griers optimism about the OL last year), well then you too might not win playoff games for 24 years running!

Well said, I wish I saw this before I made my post!

 

[fansinceGWilson]

no. the point was the more if's you have the more risk you have. it is good to have as few if's as possible. the optimism/pessimism point is irrelevant. hope is not a plan or a strategy. if you are advocating for a lot of if's (like last years offensive line), because of "optimism" (like griers optimism about the OL last year), well then you too might not win playoff games for 24 years running!

Not at all. Your post was "We need to get a plug and play LG in the draft, our new RG needs to be back to 100%, and PP needs to be at least average." I'm stating, first, other 'if's' are available. E.g., Miami could find another/better LG. And ALL of those don't have to happen for the OL to be better. Two better OGs or a better OG and improvement in PP could make the OL better. So far, I'm agnostic. I can argue either side.
I agree the fewer 'if's' the better and, for now, Miami has too many. Again, I'm just arguing a few 'if's' going right would help. "ALL" is optimism beyond reality.

 

[Mach2]

I could see Paul kicked inside to left guard where I think he projects as serviceable type if Miami were to add a more true left tackle type. Probably wouldn’t be plan a but it could be a fall back if someone like kelvin banks is taken at 13

I would think kicking AJ inside makes more sense for a few reasons

 

[Mach2]

is it possible that he can be too big to play guard? or does it not matter. i thought for the interior ol they are usually shorter stockier types and they like the quicker and longer armed guys (paul) at tackle? but maybe i am wrong, and with his phyical profile he could still be a good guard. has he ever done it? but even if they do this, we are in the spot of moving people to new positions again, which i dont like.

I think Paul would have issues getting his pad level low enough. If a 330 pound DT gets under him it's over. It's all about leverage.

A few guys at his size/frame have done it, but it isn't common.

Anyway, unless one already thinks Paul was a wasted/failed pick, why would you want to do that.

Tackle is universally seen as a higher valued spot. Give the kid a fair shot to fulfill his potential. If the team wasn't planning to do that, they shouldn't have picked him in the first place.

JMO.....